Namibia Intends To Give The West A Taste Of Its Own Visa-Medicine
Namibia is on the verge of implementing a new visa policy, some have described as fair. Namibians looking to travel to some countries have to go through very lengthy, pricey and stressful processes.
In response, citizens from those countries would now have to go through a comparable procedure should they choose to visit Namibia.
Starting April, 2025, citizens from 33 countries, which currently do not need a visa to travel to Namibia, would have to attain one should they choose to visit the Southern African tourist nation.
According to a report by the BBC, these countries, described as “non-reciprocating countries,” (countries that require Namibian passport holders to have a visa), include the US, UK, Germany, Canada and 29 others.
“Namibia has extended gestures of goodwill and favorable treatment to nationals of various countries. However, despite these efforts, certain nations have not reciprocated,” Namibia’s immigration ministry said.
“In light of this disparity, the government has deemed it necessary to implement a visa requirement to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions,” the ministry continued.
However, unlike African passport holders who need to obtain their visas in advance, these visitors will be able to purchase their $90 90-day visa upon arrival.
Charles Moore, the British High Commissioner to Namibia, remarked that he respects Namibia’s authority to enact new laws.
“[The UK] unfortunately imposed a visa regime on Namibia last year due to the number of asylum seekers we were receiving. That was impacting our relationship with Namibia,” the commissioner stated.
While many have lauded this decision, the tourism industry is a little skeptical. The Hospitality Association of Namibia said it was concerned about how the decision would be received by tourists.
This industry accounts for around 7% of the country’s GDP, it is the third largest contributor to the economy. The countries which are now required to apply for visas, make up most of its revenue.
“It will not change much; you can still get on a plane without a visa. It’s just when you get to the airport you will fill a form, pay the fees and enter,” tourism expert, Soni Nrupesh, stated.
